Seaside Links draws off in Labor Day

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Seaside Links snagged his fourth straight win under a good ride by Luis Ranilla to capture Monday's $10,525 Labor Day Stakes at Columbus on Monday afternoon.

Sent off the 3-5 favorite in a field of seven, Seaside Links took control through the final turn of the 6 1/2-furlong race to draw off by 4 1/2 lengths under a hand ride in 1:20 flat over a fast track. Longshots Blake Rattlenroll and Recast, both sent off 19-1, checked in behind the winner to key a 2-3-6 trifecta worth $267.60. Seaside Links returned $3.40 to win.

Blake Rattlenroll set the pace for the first half-mile of the race under apprentice Ashley Dill. Ranilla guided Seaside Links up to the outside going to the far turn and soon took command. Recast, pressing the pace set by Blake Rattlenroll, faded some late but held third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

The win was the third of a four-race streak that Ranilla put together to climb into a tie for the jockey title on closing day. Both Damon Leeds and Jesus Ponce were shut out on the 10-race card, and Ranilla's four-win day created a three-way tie for leading rider at the meet as Ranilla followed up in the 10th aboard Such a Deal ($7.80) to close out the card.

Seaside Links pushed his career mark to 8-3-3 from 30 starts and earnings of nearly $250,000. Trainer Dan Coughlin claimed the son of Street Cry for $7,500 at Fair Grounds in February of this year, and his four-race win streak has come over the surfaces at Lincoln, Horsemen's Park in Omaha, and a pair of wins here in Columbus.